Organizing Modern Army Conditions (Al-Mansoura Al-Mouhamadiah Army )

Abstract

   The military establishment played an exceptional role in the establishment of the Ottoman Empire and its continuation until its downfall. Since its inception, the state was militaristic in nature, and there was no dividing line between what was civilian and what was military. The Ottomans excelled in the military organization and adapted and developed the Byzantine military method, thus becoming the basis for their military establishment.      

However, the large number of political and military failures convinced Sultan Mahmud II in the beginning of the twenties of the nineteenth century of the necessity of undertaking radical reforms in the military establishment. The Janissary army proved that it was the cause of the failure of that institution, as many of the Janissaries failed to go to their military barracks designated for them to perform The military duty required of them, and they only went to receive salaries. This prompted Sultan Mahmud II to cancel the Janissary army and form a new army called Asakur al-Mansurah al-Muhammadiyya, which showed great interest in organizing that army to be a strong competitor to the European armies.